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New Adventures of Nero Wolfe - Single Episodes

by: Old Time Radio Researchers Group

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF NERO WOLFE
Nero Wolfe first appeared on radio on July 5, 1943 on the NBC Blue Network in The Adventures Of Nero Wolfe. This series didn't last long and starred Santos Ortega as Wolfe and Luis Van Rooten as Archie. The second series was during 1945 on the Mutual network in The Amazing Nero Wolfe. This lasted only until December 15, 1946 and starred Francis X. Bushman and Elliot Lewis as Archie. The third series was known as The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe. Starting on October 20, 1950 it lasted only until April 27, 1951. It starred Sidney Greenstreet as Nero Wolfe. The part of Archie was played by Lawrence Dobkin for the first twelve shows. Gerald Mohr took over for the next four shows after making a guest appearance in the twelfth show. Harry Bartell was Archie for the remainder of the series. Nero Wolfe, also known as the galloping gourmet, was an armchair detective. He rarely left the house; instead his assistant, Archie Goodwin, would collect the facts and report back. Nero Wolfe would probably not have taken on many cases had he not needed the clients' money to pay for his two true passions: fine food and the collecting of orchids. Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's male secretary, prodded him into taking cases whenever the bank balance got a little low. Wolfe, as a character, is difficult to like. He's a self-assured type that does nothing unless he wants to, making his assistant, Archie Goodwin, deal with the outside world. The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe is based on a series of books begun in 1934 by Rex Stout. There were two previous incarnations of the radio series: The Adventures of Nero Wolfe which ran in 1943 and 1944 and The New Adventures of (aka The Amazing) Nero Wolfe which ran in 1945 to 1946. Very few episodes from these earlier series are in circulation today. There was also one later series created by the Canadian Broadcasting Company in 1982.
NOTE: Updated Release! Miscellaneous changes (15-Oct-2011).
From the Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. See "Note" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

Notes

OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHERS GROUP

This is a production of the Old Time Radio Researchers Group located at Old Time Radio Researchers Website (www.otrr.org) and the Yahoo! Group Old Time Radio Researchers.

It contains the most complete and accurate version of this series in the best sound possible at the time of creation. An updated version will be issued if more episodes or better sounding ones become available.

This is the Single Episodes Page. The Certified Set includes extras not found here. It is located at OTRR Certified Set. This Single Episodes page is provided in case you want to sample the shows. Note that in many cases, file names have been modified from the original OTRR names to conform to archive.org naming requirements.

If you are interested in preserving Old Time Radio (OTR), you may wish to join the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at Yahoo.

Relax, listen, and enjoy!

OTRR Definitions:

OTRR Certified Accurate -- A series that is Certified Accurate indicates that all the episodes are properly identified and labeled but that the series does not contain all known extant episodes.

OTRR Certified Complete -- A series that is Certified Complete is the highest level of certification available under the OTRR Certified Standards. This certification level implies that all the files in the series are Certified Accurate but also indicates that the series is as complete as possible – it includes all extant episodes.

OTRR Non-Certified -- A collection of shows that has not gone through the OTRR Certification process.

Addeddate: 2009-11-18 02:14:14

Boxid: OL100020404

External_metadata_update: 2019-07-05T19:07:52Z

Identifier: OTRR_New_Adventures_of_Nero_Wolfe_Singles

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Reviews

Reviewer: willsky3 - - December 28, 2021
Subject: Radio complemented by TV series

Enjoyed all Nero Wolfe episodes here and the TV series. I bought the DVD collection of the TV Nero Wolfe. Enjoy it too.

Mind is more active with sound alone, psychologists say TV puts our brains to sleep in a not good manner.

Reviewer: nt351 - - September 20, 2021
Subject: thank you

Thank you for your time & effort.

Reviewer: ROLLO727rb - - June 30, 2019
Subject: Disappearing Diamonds

It's important to listen to these programs with the attitude that you're hearing them for the first time. It's contrary to compare them to episodes with other actors or other programs. It's not a contest.
I try to listen "fresh": 1. Do they hold my interest? 2. Are they entertaining? 3. Is the story easy to follow? What more could we want from an old radio program?
I enjoy all the Nero Wolfe episodes, some more then others.

Reviewer: MPOEye - - February 19, 2019
Subject: Misinformation in description.

Contrary to the description of the series, Larry Dobkin did not appear until the 4th episode as Archie Goodwin. The first three episodes each had a different actor playing the role. As for the series, it is just a so-so in my opinion.

Reviewer: porterville - - October 30, 2016
Subject: Nero Wolfe Was Good

This was a very good episode of "Nero Wolfe." It had a good plot and the acting was good. The audio was first rate.

Reviewer: harron68 - - February 1, 2016
Subject: Radio Nero

This series stands on its own. Whether better or worse than the books is not the issue. Lively characters, clever plots and witty dialog all combine to make a fine series. The Canadian series of 1980s 1 hr. eps are also worth searching out.
These shows have excellent clarity as well. A rare five star rating from me.

Reviewer: adrianneross - - June 2, 2015
Subject: Great Adaptation

I actually discovered Nero Wolfe through these radio programs. So far, I've read up to the 1952 Nero Wolfe books and I don't recognize any of the radio show mysteries in the books - which is OK by me. Listening to these again, they really did a good Job with the adaptation - Nero is a little more active here, but Archie, Fritz, Saul Panzer, Lt. Cramer, the ten thousand orcids, "pfui," the numerous bottles of beer...they're all here! I think Sidney Greenstreet does a fantastic job portraying Nero Wolfe - he's the voice I hear when I'm reading. Gerald Mohr is my favorite Archie Goodwin - he does the tough wise-guy so well.

Reviewer: safpsy - - May 3, 2015
Subject: Solid Series

Good believable plots, nice characterizations.

Reviewer: Monte54 - - March 6, 2015
Subject: This is the collection of Nero to listen to

I listened to other pages of Nero Wolfe and I wish I had started with this page. This is the highest quality collection of tapes for sound clarity. I think Nero Wolfe is a good series with stories that really move well and have fine portrayals of the classic characters. Thanks for uploading this great series!

Reviewer: AMC Hornet - - January 18, 2015
Subject: I like the show.

Obviously, you can't make a half hour radio show that is even remotely comparable to what Rex Stout created in his novels and short stories.

But, these are fun. I'd put the Canadian radio version - which were an hour - a step above this production.

That being said, the only Nero Wolfe that does anything like justice to the written works is the A&E television version with Maury Chaykin as Wolfe, and Timothy Hutton as Archie. Among the best television series ever.

Reviewer: degemike - - January 16, 2015
Subject: This is a fine show

I disagree with the previous poster. I enjoy these shows with Sidney Greenstreet. I also enjoyed the Nero Wolfe shows done by the Canadian Broadcast company in the 1980s. Worth a download and a listen

Reviewer: smeiz99 - - October 27, 2013
Subject: Nero Wolfe Books YES Radio Not So Much

I'm a fan of Rex Stout's enormous detective and a fan of radio but the two don't mix well. Greenstreet may have had the size of Wolfe but not the incrosincracies. OK detective show but not as great as it should have been.

Reviewer: gl1200phil - - October 13, 2013
Subject: Interesting series of sleuth who breaks the mold!

Great series of a detective that breaks every single stereotypical detective trait. In fact he rarely leaves his house! Not for everyone, in fact it might offend some. Try it. If you like, you might find a real hoot!!!

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